JERUSALEM — In a significant development, Israel’s Cabinet officially endorsed a ceasefire agreement on early Saturday morning, which is set to facilitate the release of numerous hostages held by Hamas and temporarily halt the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This important decision brings both parties closer to resolving the deadliest confrontations they have waged to date.
The government announcement confirming the ceasefire came shortly after 1 a.m. local time, specifying that the ceasefire would start on Sunday. The Cabinet session extended past the Jewish Sabbath’s onset, indicating the seriousness of the situation. By Jewish law, all operations typically pause on the Sabbath unless they pertain to life or death emergencies.
The ceasefire negotiation was mediated by Qatar and the United States and had been initially revealed on Wednesday. However, it faced delays as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited some last-minute issues attributed to Hamas. By Friday, a smaller security Cabinet had endorsed the agreement.
Critical points still remain regarding the ceasefire, which marks the second such arrangement since the conflict’s outbreak. A pressing concern is the identity of the 33 hostages expected to be released during the initial six-week phase, as there are ongoing worries about their conditions and whether they are alive.
Netanyahu has mobilized a dedicated task force to prepare for the reception of the hostages, which include women, children, men over the age of 50, and individuals who are sick or injured. According to the terms of the agreement, Hamas will release three female hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, four more on the seventh day, and the remaining 26 over the following weeks.
In addition to the hostages, Palestinian detainees will also be released as part of the agreement. Israel’s justice ministry has disclosed a list of over 700 individuals to be freed in the plan’s initial phase. These detainees will not include anyone apprehended recently.
Instead of the International Committee of the Red Cross managing the transportation of the prisoners, Israel’s Prison Services will take charge, opting for this method to avoid “public expressions of joy” that might accompany the release. The detainees face allegations ranging from incitement to serious charges such as attempted murder or violence.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has suffered extensive devastation, is anticipated to improve as aid flows into the region. Trucks filled with supplies have congregated on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, ready for distribution.
An Egyptian official revealed that an Israeli military and Shin Bet delegation arrived in Cairo to deliberate on the reopening of the border crossing, a sign of ongoing negotiations.
As the first phase of the ceasefire begins, Israeli forces plan to pull back from many locations in Gaza, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their homes. However, the Israel Defense Forces have cautioned that residents must stay away from areas where troops remain or near the Gaza-Israel border to prevent any resurgence of violence, asserting that all threats will be met with a strong response.
Negotiation efforts for the ceasefire faced numerous delays in the preceding months, but the Biden administration and President-elect Trump had been pressing both Israel and Hamas to finalize a deal before Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
The ongoing conflict was sparked by Hamas’s cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 fatalities in Israel, in addition to the captivity of approximately 250 individuals. Currently, around 100 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza. Israel retaliated with an extensive military offensive that has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians, although local health officials often do not differentiate between militants and civilians, indicating that more than half of the deceased are women and children.
In the last 24 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 88 bodies had been received at hospitals, underscoring the ongoing violence, even as the ceasefire was on the horizon. Typically, both parties have intensified operations in the final hours leading up to a ceasefire to demonstrate their military strength.
Negotiations for the second and more complex phase of the ceasefire will commence during the initial phase, involving the release of the remainder of the captives, including male soldiers. Nevertheless, Hamas has declared it will not proceed with the release without a long-term ceasefire and comprehensive Israeli withdrawal, while Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantle Hamas and maintain ongoing security measures in the region.
Long-term concerns about Gaza post-conflict linger, including questions surrounding governance and the enormous task of reconstruction. The conflict has escalated tensions across the Middle East and incited global protests, additionally revealing internal political strife within Israel, particularly from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies.
On Thursday, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, threatened to resign if the ceasefire deal was ratified. He reiterated this on Friday, expressing his opposition on social media. Early Saturday, there were no indications that he had enacted his threat.
Though his resignation alone would not jeopardize the current government or the ceasefire agreement, it could destabilize the coalition at a critical juncture, potentially leading to more extensive ramifications if other key allies of Netanyahu followed suit.
